The holiday season can be the most wonderful time of the year, but it can also, unfortunately, be the costliest. We’re getting down to the wire, and if you haven’t secured a gift for the special guy in your life, you might be starting to sweat—well, ladies, worry no longer. Showing your fella how much he means to you shouldn’t mean draining your bank account, so I’ve come up with a variety of ideas to help you keep to the budget while finding a present he will adore. Need more ideas? Check out our gift guide hub.

Budget-Friendly Gifts for Your Guy this Christmas

A DIY Present

There’s really no better gift for a loved one than those that you make yourself. You don’t have to be an artist extraordinaire—a DIY gift could be as simple as a coupon book of fun tasks and treats you’ll give your guy whenever he decides to cash them in throughout the upcoming year. Make him a tie with fabric that you know he’ll love, or create some guy-approved wall art for his workshop in the back. Whatever you choose to do, a handmade gift is one that proves the thought is what counts.

Some Cool Gadgets

If your guy loves playing around with all types of gadgets, going modern on a modest budget can feel impossible. Use a website like www.touchofmodern.com to find fun doodads he’s sure to love—whether it’s a sleek wine bottle opener, the manly, adult version of a nightlight to improve his shut-eye, or even an elegant hand warmer, you won’t have to decide on the coolest product—they’re all trendy and different from what you’ll find in any big-box store. Amazon also has a lot of neat man gadgets as well.

Some Saucy Photos

If you’re feeling a little saucy this Christmas season and want to get him a present he’ll never see coming, enlist the help of your best friend or sister and take some boudoir-themed photos. Feel free to make them as wild or tame as you like, and make sure you do it on a day where he’s not home and won’t accidentally walk into the photoshoot—effectively ruining the surprise. Print them off on photo paper for a sassy little portfolio that he can peruse at his leisure. Especially for those long months, he might be away from home, this gift is a great idea that can make him feel closer to you even when he’s miles away.

An At-Home Massage Parlor

If your guy is under a load of stress and could do with some relaxing, why not treat him to a day of luxury? Resort and spa treatments can be insanely expensive, so instead of getting him a gift certificate, turn your own home into a spa oasis and become his personal masseuse. Grab some tools to help you with your massage, light some candles, and spend an evening pampering your guy to the best of your ability.

A Special Meal

If your guy is anything like my hubby, then you probably have a recipe or two that you know he’ll devour anytime you make it. For an inexpensive but delectable gift idea, consider becoming his personal chef for the evening. What should you put on the menu? All of his absolute favorites, of course. Send the kids over to a friend’s and make this meal one that’s just for him. Pull out all the stops—from appetizers to entrées to dessert, even his favorite drinks should be ready for feasting. Don’t let him know it’s coming, and get off work early to start preparing the goods—when he walks through the door after a long day to see your spread, he’s sure to be delighted.

The Christmas Countdown

If you two don’t plan on doing big gifts for each other this year because of budget concerns, you can easily give him some daily surprises that won’t cost more than a buck or two each day. Slip a sweet note into his coat pocket one day, and hide his favorite candy bar in the glove compartment on another—make sure you text him to check it for your sweet surprise! You can have lunch delivered to his office with a service like Doordash, or bring by a pizza yourself that he and his buddies can munch on during those long lunch hours. Little gestures over a span of weeks are better than anyone's gift experience.